Our winners have been selected by our amazing readers. | Graphic by 6AM City
Your votes are in. Congratulations to all of the COLAtoday’s Best nominees. We’re excited to announce our roundup of local winners who truly shine and make Columbia a better place to live. From high level dining experiences and accommodations to places to hang with your friends — here are your top choices in each of our categories.
🍸 Adult Crowd (21+)
Amazing drinks, delicious food options, a vibrant social atmosphere –– all of these make for a great place for locals to have a good time.
Columbia is a fun hub for the littles in your family to explore, engage, and make childhood memories.
First place: Riverbanks Botanical Garden
Runners Up: EdVenture + Columbia Fireflies
🎉 Venues for Family
Ditch staying at home for something new. Across Columbia, there are plenty of fantastic activities to take your whole family for a fun outing with light bites and nature walks.
First place: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Runners Up: Columbia Fireflies + All Good Books
🐾 Pet-Friendly Places
Did some-pawdy say bon-a-pet-treat? COLA has purr-fect hot spots for you to bring your BFFs –– best furry friends –– to stroll around + enjoy.
First place: Soda City Market
Runners Up: Jake’s + Columbia Fireflies
🥞 Brunch
When you’re ready for the avocado toast and mimosas, Columbia’s variety of brunch spots are ever-growing with delicious cuisine options + morning libations.
First place: The Gourmet Shop
Runners Up: Cafe Strudel West Columbia + DiPrato’s
🍽️ Outdoor Dining
Between handcrafted charcuterie boards on patios and daiquiris at a rooftop bar, our town adds a charming twist to going out to eat.
First place: Market On Main
Runners Up: The Gourmet Shop + Tazza Kitchen Trenholm Plaza
“Dracula: Ballet With A Bite” | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $35+ | This Halloween weekend, immerse yourself in gothic romance with South Carolina Ballet’s “Dracula: Ballet with a Bite.”
Saturday, Oct. 26
Brew Adoption Day | 10 a.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, Cayce | Free | Meet some amazing dogs and puppies available for foster and adoption during The Steel Hands Annual Halloween Party.
Jam Room Music Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Corner of Main and Hampton Streets | Free | The Jam Room Music Festival returns to Columbia’s Main Street with headliners Real Estate and of Montreal, joined by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Truth Club, Daddy’s Beemer, Today is the Day, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, PATx, and MIDS.
EdVenture’s Halloween Hoopla | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | EdVenture | This fun-filled, glow-in-the-dark-themed event features interactive activities, treats, and surprises for the whole fam (costumes are encouraged).*
SC Korean Festival | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Korean Community Presbyterian Church | Free | The Festival features dance and musical performances from centuries past to modern day, including a K-Pop dance contest.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Nightmare on Bullstreet Brunch | 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Publico Bullstreet | $10 | Enjoy a local DJ spinning fun music, Halloween pop-up decorations throughout the restaurant, and a spooky snacks and cocktails menu.
Midlands Fall Native Plant Market | 1-5 p.m. | Hunter-Gatherer Brewery at the Hanger | Free | Fall is the best time to plant, and the best plants for South Carolina wildlife are native.
Friday, Nov. 1
Charlotte FC Home Playoff Match | Friday, Nov. 1 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St. , Charlotte | Join the party and watch Charlotte FC take on Orlando City in the MLS Cup Playoffs.*
Learning cool new skills? That’s speaking our language.
Presented by Rosetta Stone
Learning is a lifelong skill — and it’s never too late to take on a new language. | Photo provided by Rosetta Stone
Name three reasons Rosetta Stone has been a trusted name in language learning for over 30 years? Easy:
The immersive platform offers expert-crafted courses in 25+ languages.
Just 13 hours of study with Rosetta Stone is equivalent to a full semester of college Spanish.
With lessons as short as five minutes, you can hone your skills between classes or meetings, on your commute, or even replace some mindless social media scrolling.
Ready to start learning? Get 50% off 25 languages with Lifetime Unlimited.
No. 1 —that’s the ranking the USC women’s basketball received on the USA Today/Coaches Preseason Women’s Basketball Poll. The team was also selected as the SEC Champion favorite for the 2024-25 season. Get excited — the season gets underway on Mon., Nov. 4. (Gamecocks Online)
Traffic
SCDOT announced a closure on I-126 Westbound off-ramp to Colonial Life Boulevard for construction and is expected to last until Friday, Nov. 1. Take a look at the detour map + use caution.
Seasonal
Don’t miss Five Points’ Trick-Or-Treat Halloween event. Don your costumes and pack up the family. From 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, enjoy fun Halloween carnival games, pluck-a-pumpkin at the fountain, a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating, and more throughout the district. Take a look at the map.
State
Walmart announced that SC is one of six states that will now deliver new prescriptions + refills to customers’ doorsteps. It will cost $9.95 for a delivery but will be free for members of Walmart+. By the end of January, the national retailer expects to be in 49 states. (CNBC)
Sports
Bryce Young’s Return — Can the Carolina Panthers turn the tide? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Community
Since 2012, The COMET has leveraged one-third of a penny for 71% more rides and 29 new routes. Learn more about how Richland County’s penny tax has been instrumental in The COMET’s success.*
Shop
Let the season of shopping begin. Still Hopes’ annual Holiday Market returns on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with an array of festive local businesses. If you’re interested in being a vendor, the deadline to apply is this Monday, Oct. 28. Learn more.*
Try This
This six-ingredient, protein-packed snack is delicious and nutritious. Plus, no cooking is required. Try meal-prepping these peanut butter-banana protein balls, perfect for athletes or anyone on the go.*
Community
Discover the vibrant colors, daring techniques, and revolutionary spirit that defined an era at the Columbia Museum of Art’s new must-see exhibition. Featuring works from Monet, Matisse, Degas, and more, this collection takes you on a journey through 100 years of artistic transformation. Learn more + book a tour.*
Category
Biz
💈 Need a haircut?
A new location of Circa Barbershop is now located at 101B E. Main St. | Forrest Clonts
Circa Barber Shop, located at 101B E. Main St. in Lexington, next to Craig Reagin Clothiers, is now open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The new space features Circa’s signature aesthetic — think the classic black + white colors, exposed brick, wood accents, and four classic barber chairs.
The owner, Halie Holland, worked as a Circa barber for five years.
“Our clients aren’t just clients; they become friends, part of our community. We get to share in life’s big moments from marriages to new babies and everything in between. Whether you’re celebrating or going through a tough time, our shop is a safe space, where the chair becomes more than just a place for a haircut — it’s ‘hairapy,’ connection and a little light in people’s lives” Holland said.
You can find several other Circa locations around the Midlands, like Main Street, Forest Drive, and Sumter Street.
The Buy
The Buy
An emergency roadside kit. The 90-piece set comes with a LED headlamp, tire repair kit, jumper cables, window breaker and seat belt cutter, first aid kit, and more.
My view from a coffee shop: 📍 Knowledge Perk
Because the city is my office, I frequent local coffee shops + wanted to start sharing my views from inside Cola’s caffeine fixes. Next time you’re in need of a local brew, head to Knowledge Perk, located inside the historic W. B. Smith Whaley House. Recap the redevelopment + I recommend ordering its seasonal Apple Pie Chai with oat milk.
